Locomotive boiler



May-5,. 1931. T. H. ALFRr-:Ds 1,803,685

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Aug. 25. 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOBRIS H. ALFREDS, OF PARK RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE l' LOCOMOTIVE BOILER .Application led August 23, 1929. Serial No. 387,837. Y

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive boilers and it consists of the matters-hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to improve the water circulating and steaming efficiency of a locomotive boiler by providing in the iirebox thereof, one or more members in the nature of siphons, which are externally heated by the products of combustion in the iirebox and are internally heated by said products as they pass through the usual flues on their way to the smoke box of the locomotive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which acts to draw water from the boiler in advance of the flue sheet and guide it for distribution through the crown sheet, which construction is both eX- ternally and internally heated.

These objects of the invention as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a locomotive boiler embodying my invention. l

Y y Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional viewthrough the same'as taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. y

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3 3 5 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 1 -4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a Siphon-like element embodied in my invention. Y'

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates as a whole the flue sheet of the fireboX, 2 indicates the rear sheet thereof, which sheets are connected together in the usual manner by the transversely curved crown-sheet 3 and the sidel sheets 4:-4. The bottom portion of the flue sheet is formed to provide the inner front throat sheet 5. The shell 6 of the boileris made as a continuation'of the outer side sheet 7 7, top sheet 8, and outer front throat sheet 9 and includes an outer back sheet 10, and in said sheets 2 and 10 respectively is formed a fuel door opening 11.4

Several of the sheets mentioned coact to provide the front throat or water leg 12, side water legs 13 and rear water leg 14 respectively, all closed at the bottom by a mud ring 15. In the open bottom of the VfireboX is'the usual grate as indicated by the dotted line 16 and in the shell of the boiler are the dues 17 which are normally fixed at one end in the flue sheet and act to conduct the products of combustion from the iirebox to the smokeboX at the front end of the boiler in the manner well known. rEhe 'construction described is typical of present day locomotive boilers.

To increase thewater steaming and circu- Vlating efficiency of the boiler as a whole, I -employ in the fireboX thereof, one or more fiat hollow elements, each of which is connected to the crown sheet and to the front sheet of the firebox respectively, soas to open through the same.

' One type of such element is best shown in perspective in Fig. 5 and the same may be likened to the well known Nicholson thermic siphon. Such an element which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1 8 is preferably made 'from' a substantially rectangular metallic sheet folded diagonally or cornerwise upon itself to provide spaced substantially triangular side walls 19-7-19 connected togetherby a wall 20 inclined to the plane of the top and end edges of saidV side walls. Preferably, said wall 20 is bulged at its bottom end as at 21 and this bulge decreases in prominence toward the top end where it merges into said side walls. Said side walls are pron vided with matched staybolt openings 22.

In the crown sheet 3 I provide a pair of longitudinally extending slots 3a each of which is defined by a pair of flanges 23 directed 1nwardly of the'iirebox and in the flue sheet 1I provide perpendicular slots 1a each of which is defined by a pair of iianges 24C directed'inwardly of the firebox so as to' form continuations of the flanges 23. Thus in l efect there are formed, elongated Openings in the crown sheet and flue sheet respectively, which register with each other.

rl`he top edges of the side walls 19-19 of an element 1S are engaged with and butt welded to the flanges 23 and the end edges of said side walls are engaged with and butt welded to the flanges 24 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 1. lith the elements thus secured in place, it is apparent that said elements provide flat hollow members in the irebox forming ducts through which water may pass from points forward of the flue sheet to above the crown sheet.

Certain of the flues 17 in the perpendicular rows in line with said elements, are elongated as indicated at 17a and extend horizontally7 through the elements and their extremities are bent downwardly as at 17b to be fixed in but to open through the inclined wall 2O of the element. Thereafter staybolts 25 are inserted in place through the registering openings 22 in the side walls 15)-19 so as to extend in rows dis aosed between adjacent flue sections or parts 17 a as best shown in Fig. 1.

In operation the products of combustion in the firebox are transferred to the elements through the various walls thereof and portions of said products pass into the flues 17 and flue sections 17 a that extend through the said elements as described. This causes a rapid heating of the water in said elements and the steam evolved as well as the extremely hot water in the said elements takes on an upward movement whereby the heavier and colder water from in front of the iiue sheet passes into said elements so that a rapid circulation is then established and an assurance is had that the front portion of the crown sheet will at all times be flooded with water.

It will be noticed from the above that said elements are both externally and internally heated so that the action thereof is materially increased both as to steaming eiciency as well as circulating efliciency. Again such an element being secured along its top and end to the crown sheet and flue sheet respectively, acts as a truss-like brace to rigidify the crown and liuc sheet which mutually coact to this result.

IVhile in describing the invention, I have ref-erred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a iirebox having a crown sheet and a front sheet and flues leading from said front sheet, a fiat hollow element fixed to said crown sheet and front sheet respectively to open therethrough, and including a wall inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said fron't sheet, certain of said flues extending through said element to be fixed in and to open through said inclined wall thereof.

2. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a irebox having a crown sheet and a front sheet with registering slot like openings therein, an element having side walls and an inclined bottom wall connecting diagonal corners thereof, which walls are fixed to portions of said sheets defining said slot like openings and flues leading from said front sheet and certain ones of which extend through said element between the side wall thereof to open through said inclined walls.

3. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a firebox having a crown sheet and a front sheet with registering slot-like openings therein defined by flanges extending into said firebox, an element having spaced side walls and an inclined bottom wall connecting opposite corners of the same and which side walls are connected to said flanges and flues leading from said front sheet, certain ones of which are extended through said element between the side walls thereof and are xed at their extremities in said inclined wall so as to open therethrough.

4. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a firebox having a crown sheet and a front sheet and flues leading from said front sheet and a Hat hollow element supported by said crown sheet and front sheet respectively and acting to deliver boiler water from in front of the front sheet to above the crown sheet, said element including laterally spaced upright side walls and a bottom wall inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said front sheet, certain of said flues extending rearwardly beyond the plane of said front sheet and through the front of said element to open through the inclined bottom wall thereof.

5. A locomotive boiler embodying therein a firebox having a crown sheet and a front sheet and flues leading horizontally from said front sheet, a iat hollow element fixed in said crown sheet and front sheet respectively to opentherethroughandincludingabottomwall inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said front sheet, certain of said flues extending through said element from the front thereof and each having an end bent at a right angle to said inclined wall to be fixed in and to open therethrough.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of Aug., 1929.

TOR-RIS H. ALFREDS. 

